Vacuum cleaning apparatus.



J. 1'. DUFFIE.

VACUUM CLEANING APBARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUN E 11.1917.

- rammed July 17, 1917;

2 SHEETSSH EET 1- J. J. DUFFIE.

VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, mm.

1,234,095. A Patented J1'11y17,1917.*

2 SHEETSSHEET z.

E wuemto'z UNITED STATES" PATENT oFFIoE.

JOHN J. DUFFIE, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR 'IO. VACUUM SPECIALTY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF ARIZONA.

VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1917.

Original application filed March 30, 1915, Serial No. 17,970. Divided and this application filed .Tune 11,

v Y 1917. Serial No. 174,069.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. DUFFIE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Berkeley, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum Cleaning Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to portable pneumatic cleaners which are adapted to be moved over the object to be cleaned, as

for example, a floor or carpet, the cleaningbeing effected by a suction. device which is preferably driven by an electric motor contained within the casing of the cleaner. This case is a division of my application,

Serial Number 17,970, filed March 80, 1915.

One object of my invention is to provide a portable pneumatic cleaner in which the dust-separator comprises a casing which is preferably swiveled to the casing containing. the suction producing apparatus, and which is attached. to or constitutes a portion of the operating handle. Portable vacuum cleaners of the motor-operated type, are usually provided with a dust-separating bag of textile material attached to the operating handle, into which the dust-laden air is introduced, the dust and dirt being retained and the air passing out through the pores or interstices of the bag. The bag is subjected to. rough usage and rapidly deteriorates when in constant use and moreover the walls of the bag which constitute the separating medium become impregnated with the dirt and impalpable dust drawn from the carpets. To overcome this unsanitary feature and the rapid wear of the bag separator and also to provide a more efficient apparatus I employ a tubular casing, constructed of metal or other suitable material, which forms the dust-collecting receptacle and contains a filtering medium which is readily removable for the purpose of being cleansed or replaced, the casing forming a part of or being attached to the operating handle by which the apparatus is moved over the caret. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pneumatic cleaner embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the dust receptacle casing partly in longitudinal section; Fig. 3 is an a front elevation of the lower portion of the cleaner shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 7' is an enlarged sectional detail of the lower part of amodified form of the dust-receptacle; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another modification of my invention.

I prefer to employ a suction creating apparatus of the electric motor-driven type and which is inclosed in a casing suitably supported so that it may be pushed to and fro over the floor or carpet. I have illustrated such an apparatus in which a fan is mounted within the casing portion 1 the motor in the portion 1", the suction tool 2, being carried by a removable plate 3, and the whole being mounted upon supporting wheels or casters 5. 'A removable cap 6, closes the connection for the hose attachment for cleaning curtains, furniture, etc.

' I provide a dust-receptacle in the form of a tubular casing 10, which may be made of sheet metal, papier mach, fiber or other suitable material. This is shown in the ac companying drawings as forming a part of the-operating handle by -whioh'the cleaner is actuated, but it is evident that it may be merely secured tothe handle in a manner to make it rigid therewith. It is desirable that there should be a flexible connection between the suction apparatus which moves over: the floor and the casing 10, so that the latter may oscillate or rock with respect to the fan .and motor casing to permit the handle, including the dust casing as a part thereof, to accommodate itself to the movement of the operators hand as the cleaner is moved to and fro. I accomplish this purpose in my preferred form by connecting the dust conduit pipe 12, with the outlet of the fan As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the dust separator tube 10 is secured to the plate 15 by swinging bolts 18, and locked in position with wing-nuts, the marginal flange on the ticles and cause them to fall to the bottom of the tube as indicated at 24.

The top of the dust separator tube is closed by a perforated or apertured cap 25, and may be removably secured by swinging bolts 26 provided with wing-nuts, which fasten the abutting flanges together. The deflector plate 23 is carried by arms 27, carried by the lower rim of the cap. Below the perforations in the cap there is a filtering medium such as a cloth diaphragm 28, held in position by a ring 29 sprung under the lugs 30. Projecting upwardly from the cap is a handle 32 adapted to be grasped by the operator and which may carry a switch 34 to which the electric cable 35 is connected, so that the motor operating the.

fan may be controlled by the hand. An inspection glass 36 inserted in the casing wall enables one to observe the operation of the to serve as a deflector, thereby causing the air to form eddies within the separatori which assists in depositing the heavier particles and prevents a direct impact against the filtering medium.

Instead of fastening the separator to a supporting plate 15 carried by the outlet tube 12, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the tube 12 may be extended upwardly so that it will perform the functlon-of the pipe 21, and the separator tube 10 may be slipped down over the pipe and carried directly thereby. I have shown how' this may be accomplished in Fig. 7, in which a thimble 40 surrounding the pipe supports the tube and may be threaded to an internal nipple 10 projecting upwardly from the bottom of the separator 10.

The operation will be readily understoodthe outlet pipe 12 and the attached dust receptacle or separator tube 10, rock on the swivel joint 14 to accommodate the movements of the operators hand. The dustladen air drawn through the nozzle 2 by the fan is forced through the outlet pipe 12 and the pipe 21, into the separator tube, the deflector receiving the impact and causing the air to eddy downwardly, depositing the coarser particles in the bottom of the tube, the air then passing outwardly through the filtering medium which thoroughly cleanses it before passing through the perforations in the cap 25.

When it is desired to empty the receptacle and cleanse the filter, the nuts on the bolts 26 are loosened and the cap is removed, with the filter attached, which can then be taken out. In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the bolts 18 are loosened from the bottom flanges and the tube 10 can then be removed and emptied. In the form shown in Fig. 7 the tube 10 is unscrewed from the thimble 40 and slipped over the end of the tube 12. The dust receptacle may be hinged at one side as at 20 in Figs. 4 and 6, and may then be swung downwardly to discharge the dirt without removing it from the plate 15.

Instead of swiveling the dust conduit pipe 12 to the side of the fan-casing, I may use a flexible hose or tube 12, of rubber, canvas, or other flexible material as illustrated in Fig. 8. In this case the dustreceptacle 10 is supported upon the fan casing by making the strap 17 the same length as 16, and swiveling it to the opposite side of the casing, moving the dust outlet connection l to a different position and conmeeting the casing and the receptacle by a flexible hose 12. 'I have shown the dust outlet 14* at the rear of the fan casing, but it may be placed at any convenient point. The flexible hose or tube 12 accommodates itself to the oscillating movements of the handle and receptacle, and may be readily withdrawn when it is desired to detach the receptacle.

The advantages of my invention will be appreciated by those familiar with portable motor-operated pneumatic cleaners of the type in which the suction-creating appa-' ratus is supported uponthe floor and movable thereover. The construction of the dust separator prevents any contamination by contact therewith, and is exceedingly compact, the flexible connection between the parts of the apparatus providing for the easy operation of the cleaner, and maintainin a rigid connection between the handle an the receptacle. In all of the modifications illustrated, the pivotal movements of the handle and the receptacle about the fan casing are coaxial.

I claim:

1. A pneumatic cleaner, comprising a casing adapted to move over a surface to be cleaned and having a suction-nozzle, and provided with suction-creating apparatus, a tubular dust-receptacle pivol'all connected to said casing, an outlet conduit noval'ilii connected to said casing and conneeting with said receptacle, and filtering means within said receptacle.

Q. A pnenn'iatie cleaner. comprising a ea$ ing havinga suction-nozzle, and n'ovided with suction-creating apparatus, a tuhnlai' diist-receptaclemeans for miiainlingi said receptacle for pivotal nmvomvni upon said casing, a handle rigidly connected to the reevptawha and a dust (-ondnit movahly eon- .nm-fing said easing and RfllCl IPCOPHHJli. and

permitting co-axial pivotal movement' of the handle and receptacle upon the casino.

3. A pneumatic cleaner, comprising :1 casing adapurd to move over a Slll'flUQ to he cleaned and having a suction-nozzle, and provided with SlllTtlOll-Clfiflll-lHQ apparatus, a snppmLing niemher pii'olallv connected to said on sing. a tubular duslreeeptacle rigidly secured to said member to cause a coaxial lll( )\'(3l1lll.l'- of the receptacle and snl'iporting member, an outlet conduit, swim-led f1. s aid (a ing and connoeting with said i'i. eept-a :le, and filtering means within said reey-ptachie.

ln testimonywhereof lf aflix my i nalnre.

Mill-1N J. l l FFI li. 

